Raleigh
Evil Dead 2
Colony TheatreBruce Campbell achieved genre-god status with a hand vs. man fight, a chainsaw gauntlet and too many great one-liners to list here. OK, how about one: “Groovy.” Enjoy director Sam Raimi’s DVD favorite on the big screen for one night only. Visit www.therialto.com for more information. Zack Smith

Durham
World Beer Festival
Durham Bulls Athletic ParkIs Durham a beer town? Before you answer, ask yourself this: What exactly makes for a good beer town? Is it the presence of local breweries; is it large numbers of knowledgeable but unpretentious suds-loving residents; does the city host a world-class beer related event? Still stumped? Not to worry, this weekend marks the opening of the 13th annual World Beer Festival in Durham, which provides for those Triangle-ites uninitiated in beer culture the opportunity to join the snobs by throwing around words like “hoppy” and “Belgian lace.” And then, of course, there is the beer. Held for the first time at DBAP, after years at the old park, the beer festival boasts more than 300 local and exotic brands of liquid courage for attendees to sample. Of course, there is the possibility that, after attending both sessions (noon-4 p.m and 6-10 p.m.), one might forget whatever insight they gained; so, imbibe lightly, featherweights. General admission to each session is $40; visit www.allaboutbeer.com/wbf for details. Vernal Coleman

Durham
Ciompi Quartet Plays Billy Taylor
Duke UniversityA week after Duke presented its Jazz @ Home series, Duke Performances works to bridge jazz and home to yet another form, the string quartet: Various Duke faculty instrumentalists have comprised The Ciompi Quartet since 1965, and their consistent versatility has long functioned as an enabler for interesting ideas.This week is no exception, as they’ll join bassist John Brown, drummer Adonis Rose and St. Louis pianist Peter Martin on Thursday to play Homage: A Suite for String Quartet and Jazz Trio, a 1993 piece written by Greenville native and jazz piano pioneer Billy Taylor as a nod to his mentors. Thursday’s concert costs a mere $5 and happens at 6 p.m. in Nelson Music Room. Today’s encore performance at Reynolds Industry Theater costs $18. This program begins at 8 p.m. and will also include The Ciompi Quartet’s takes on some essential icons, including Ravel and Haydn. Another engaging concept, courtesy of Duke. Call 684-4444 for tickets. Grayson Currin

Raleigh
The Bleeding Hearts
Slim’sAmong the foremost disciples of Raleigh’s hard-won, rarely forsaken guitar-rock heritage, The Bleeding Hearts received a boost from an unlikely idol, E-Street Band guitarist Little Steven Van Zandt. He featured the quartet’s “Rehab Girl” on the “Coolest Song in the World” segment of his popular satellite radio show in August, and the band’s been gathering play and popularity ever since. Nothin’ on but the Radiothe band’s second album, released by Doublenaught Records in Junecaptures the band’s braggadocio at full blast, guitars screaming over pop songs about failed love and instantaneously successful lust. Pay $3 at 10 p.m. Grayson Currin

Raleigh
Tomfoolery
Kennedy Theatre at the Progress Energy Center“You can’t be satirical and not be offensive to someone.” That line comes courtesy of Tom Lehrer, the 78-year-old Harvard-educated mathematician and satirist. Experience dictates, however, that what was once shocking and offensive will, with the passage of time, become quaint, benign or even just silly. But that might be the reason behind the continuing appeal of Tomfoolery, a revue of Lehrer’s wit and wisdom, the Stagelight production of which opens tonight and continues through Oct. 26. “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” and Lehrer’s other gallows-humored ditties may not be as pointed as they were back in the ’50s, but in these austere times, maybe irreverence is what we need. This is the debut of a new company: Stagelight is the brainchild of Jonathan Rosen, recently relocated from the San Francisco area. His company will focus on “interesting and somewhat non-mainstream musical theater.” Willkommen! Tickets are $25; visit www.stagelightproductions.org for details. Vernal Coleman